NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Caeli Quinn, Co-Founder and Director, Climate Ride, 406.871.5477, [email protected]
CLIMATE RIDE GRANTS MORE THAN $400K TO 56 ORGANIZATIONS IN 2012
Climate Ride Expands Green Grant Program by 37% over 2011 to $409,847;
Surpasses $1 Million in Grants to Environmental and Bicycle-related Nonprofits Since 2008
MISSOULA, MT – December 20, 2012: Climate Ride, the national bike ride for sustainable solutions, has announced that it will grant $409,847 to 56 nonprofit beneficiary organizations this week. The funds were raised during two cycling events in 2012 – Climate Ride NYC-DC last May and Climate Ride California last September. In all, nearly 300 cyclists pedaled more than 620 miles to raise funds for and awareness of sustainability, bicycle advocacy, renewable energy, and climate change solutions.
“We’re very proud to exceed the threshold of $400,000 in grants for the year because it represents a 37% increase over last year’s grants, without a significant increase in staff costs, which means we worked harder and smarter again in 2012,” said Caeli Quinn, Co-Founder and Director of Climate Ride. “I think this metric showcases not only how fast the Climate Ride organization is growing, but also demonstrates how important these issues are becoming to the American public after so many unprecedented weather events and the hottest year on record. Climate Ride has truly become a hub of the sustainability movement, and a place where the biggest environmental and bicycle organizations can come together to network, share ideas, and experience 300 miles of amazing cycling together.”
The grants for 2012 will be awarded this week to 56 national and local organizations, and range from $526 to $52,713. The grant amounts vary because participants are allowed to direct their specific fundraising dollars to a list of pre-approved nonprofits. In 2011, Climate Ride announced a significant change to its beneficiary structure, which allowed participants to direct their event fundraising to organizations of their choice, as long as the organization meets the beneficiary requirements set forth by the Climate Ride Board of Directors. The change allowed 56 organizations related to sustainability, renewable energy, climate and bicycle advocacy to receive funding from Climate Ride events in 2012.
“Including these 2012 grants, we have given away $1,057,240 to hard-working nonprofits since our inaugural ride in 2008,” said Geraldine Carter, Co-Founder and Director of Climate Ride. “That amazes me. When we dreamed up the first Climate Ride, we never imagined that we’d hit this important milestone within 5 years. We’ve given out 90 grants since 2012 and with so many other funders and grants drying up, our riders’ fundraising has helped these beneficiaries bridge the gap and continue their critical work.”
Climate Ride benefitted 25 organizations in 2011, and then added 33 new beneficiaries for 2012. Nonprofits that will receive the 2012 grants include: 1% For the Planet, 350.org, Adventure Cycling Association, Alliance for Biking and Walking, Alliance for Climate Education, Acterra, Active Transportation Alliance, Bike New York, BikeSonoma, Boston Cyclists Union, Carbon War Room, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Clean Air – Cool Planet, Climate Counts, Climate Protection Campaign, Center for Resource Solutions, East Bay Bicycle Coalition, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Working Group, Green America, Green For All, Greenbelt Alliance, Grist, IISD – United Nations Office, Institute for Sustainable Communities, International Green Industry Hall of Fame, League of American Bicyclists, Marin County Bicycle Coalition, National Parks Conservation Association, Natural Resource Defense Council, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Renewable Energy Long Island, San Francisco Bike Coalition, Sierra Club California, Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, School for Field Studies, Solar Living Institute, Save our Snow Foundation, Transportation Alternatives, US Green Building Council – National Capital Region, Washington Area Bicyclists Association, Walk San Francisco, Will Steger Foundation, Windustry, World Bicycle Relief, and 11 other smaller, local organizations.
2013 Ride Events
From May 19-23, 2013, the epic Climate Ride California will return for its fourth year and will see nearly 200 Climate Riders pedal more than 320 miles in 5 days. The California ride begins under towering redwoods along the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, before turning west toward the coast for two full days of some of the most scenic cycling in America. After a quick spin through the Russian River Wine Country, Climate Riders pedal across the Golden Gate Bridge to finish at a rally at City Hall in San Francisco.
Then, from September 21-25, 2013, Climate Ride returns to the East Coast with its fifth-annual Climate Ride NYC-DC 2013 event from the heart of New York City to the steps of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Registration is open to 200 cyclists who will raise money for the green organization of their choice (pending Climate Ride approval), and then set out on a 5-day, 300-mile journey and ‘green conference on wheels’ through four states and the District of Columbia to take their message of a sustainable future to Washington.
More information about both events can be found at www.climateride.org.
About Climate Ride
Climate Ride was founded to inspire and empower citizens to work toward a new energy future. Climate Ride events raise money for a collection of innovative organizations including 350.org, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Green America, Climate Counts, 1% for the Planet, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Washington Area Bicyclist Association, and Transportation Alternatives. For more information, or to support a participant, visit www.climateride.org.
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